Trolley clamp



'14, 1943. H. c/APPELLANTI TROLLEY CLAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1941 INVENTOR.

Arron N :Ys

Spt 14, 1943 H. cAPPELLAN-n 2,329,391

TROLLEY CLAMP Filed Aug. 2, 1941A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V ENTOR.

\ Sept., 14,1943.

H. cAPPELLAN-rl 2,329,391 a TROLLEY CLAMP ATTORNEYS IN V [.'N TOR.

yalong the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

.meansi z' Patented Sept. 14, 1943 y -TaouEYorAMr Harry- Cappellanti, Morgantown,y VKVa.,f assign r` j W. vez@ Applicatignnu'gust 2,4941, sevriluivo.',495,231

o [4 Clarins.v (01.111.1:-z735"l `My invention relates to electric circuits emr ployed in mines, and has among'itsobjects and advantages the provision of an improved safety trolley clamp particularly adapted yfor user in connection with bare tapping systems.

An object of my invention is to provide a trolleyv clamp designed to provider apositive clamping action and Whereinthe constructionk is such as to facilitate quick and easy operation thereof. When in use, the clamp is characterf ized by a firm grip upon the trolley cable and thereby eliminates the tendency to swing, which ischaracterlstic` of `conventional hook devices employed in mines. The clamp is also provided with an elastic enclosure to isolate electricsparks within the apparatus itself. Two clamping jaws are employed, which jaws are actuated through the mediumof a handle which, when pivoted in one' direction, imparts clamping motionto the jaws and, when pivoted inthe opposite direction,

causes the jaws torelease from the trolley cable, thereby preventing thelocomotive orv machine operators from becoming tangled inthe cable connected with the jaws in the eventof `a run'- away or miss while in motion. i In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a.v trolley `embodying my invention;

' yFigure 2 is a sectional view taken` substantially Figure 3 is an end view of the clamp jaws in their released positions;

Figure 4 is a view of the opposite end of .the clamp jaws also in their releasing positions l i Figure -5 is a sideviewof thefjaws clamping the trolley, with one of the jaws partly broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Figure 6 is a view taken along the line, 6-6

of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a kView taken along the line l'I--'I of Figure 5;

Figure 8 isa sectional view of a modified form ofthe handle construction; v v. n

Figure 9 is an innerrv face view of one of the jaws;

Figure 10 is an inner face view of the other Figure'll is an endview kof a `cam coacting with the jaws of Figures the jaws upon the trolley;

Figure 12 isgan opposite end view of vthe clamp 9 and 10` for clamping as shown invFigure 6. Figure 2 illustrates the n jaws in their'trolley i releasing positions, which is also true of Figures 3 and '4. In Figures 9'and Figure 13 is an end view of a cable 4securing c Figure A14is a view of the opposite'end-of the part of Figure 13;

f Figure 15 isa detailviewzf-a spring Vbia-sing the jaws `of Figures 9 Iand 10, to an open position;

7 Figure 16 is a detail view of aspringemployed Figure 21 isa perspectivefview of*y a v'rubber boot enclosing thegreater portion of'the'clamping jawslto 'isolateelectric sparks withinthe clamped cell. l

y In the embodimentlselected for illustration, the trolley clamp comprises two jaws kII) and I2 recessed at I4 to substantially embrace the trolley cable I6 when the ljaws areclamped thereon,

l0, the jaw lf'is providedfwith two ears I8, each fittinglooselylbetvileen two spaced ears-'20 formed on theI jawk 4I All the'ears' Illl and 20 ar'p'rovidedf-Vwithtcoaxial openings 22 for the, reception oi a pin 24 Vabout whichfthe twojaws I0 and Meansy for yieldinglyv` biasing the jaws III'vand` I2 totheiropen positions comprises a spring 26 havingthe legs 28` thereof' lying yin groovesv3li inthe jaws so Vas to be restrained from accidental displaccrernent.` Upon the pin 24,\see Figures 1 and 2,is mounted a swivel member 32 having-a boreV 34loosely`receiving thepin. The earportion 36 of the swivel vmernberis loosely receivable vbetweenspaced earsv 38 at one end of aclamp stem 40, the ears 36 and ,38 being boredr toire- 'ceive a pin 42. i Swivel memberl 32 is loose on ,the pin-24 and the-ears-Si ofxthe'vstem 40 may also pivot o n the pin `II2, the latter beingr located at right angles to the pin 2 4.; e

I Each jaw/ III and I2 is provided with a finger M and/ the .stemy 461s provided with a wedgeshaped `formation Iiir arranged to enter between the two ngersd lfor separating the flngersand.

pivoting the jawsr I0 and I2 intoA clamped en- ',gagement with theltr'olley I6 ,when the stem 40 4'is pivotedrto the positionofkFigure 5. Each jaw I0 and I2 alsor includesz al short iingerjl` arranged tofbe-r engaged by a shoulder lor stop v5VI'I on the stem 40 whenthe latter is pivoted 5to its jaw releasing position of Figures 1 andv2.A When .fin,.vtl1el1atter position, the wedge-shaped formation. :projects a v,short distance betweenI the iinge'rs 44 but provides sumcient clearance to persectional vview ya ,modied openings 60 in an end wall 62 of the body 52 and' are bent to provide right angular pins 64y and* loosely receivable in a transverse bore 66 in the stem 40. The bight 68`connecting the legs 58 is of curved formation to extend partly about the stem 4o underneath the wausz, the body.,

52 beingprovided with an axial bore I0 for accommodating the bight.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate thefingers 44`as'4` each having a groove 12 into which the legs 58 A snap when the handle ,56 is pivoted to the position of Figure 5. Each of the fingers is also recessed at 14 to partiallyembrace the stein 40 underneath the` wedge-shaped formation 46 when the handle is in the position of FigureY 5.

Thus the handle is firmly latched ink the clamped position of the jaws I0 and I2.

In Figure 1, the stem 40 isiprovidedwith a threaded shank 'I6 threaded into a cable clamp part 'I8 having a threadedl body 80 threadedly receivable in a threaded'bo're `82L in a companion cable clamp part 84. Acablefextends inside the tubular handle 56 and theinsulation ofthe cable is cut away with the bared wires'884 extending through a bore 90 in the part 64. 'This part is provided with a circumferential shoulder92 having an annular groove 94. On the end of the body 80 is formed an annular'bead 96 opposing theannular groove 94. A conical-shaped wire spreading point 98 is formed at the end ofthe body 80 coaxially with the opening 90. the point 98 spreads the wire ends laterally so that the wire ends may be clamped between the shoulder 92 and the bead 96, as at |00. Both parts yI8 vand 84 Aare fiattened at |02 to facilitate the application of wrenches theretoso that the two parts may be'flrmly connectedfor tightly pressing the wire'ends betweenthe ledge and the bead. The lower end ofthe handle 56 is provided with anopening |04 `which snugly receives the cable 86, the latterl being of such length'as to connect with the machine located to one side of the' trolley I6. The handle I6 pivots in a plane longitudinally intersecting the trolley I6 and mere pivotal movement of the handle to the position of Figure l releases the 'jaws' Iand vl2 so that the latt or dropped from the trolley. I jA rubber boot |06 is slipped over the steinV 40 above the handle 56 and embraces the jaw porer may be removed vtions underneath the trolley I6 so as to f confine f electric sparks within the jaw` assembly.

Figure 8 illustratesa modification in which the 'stem |08, corresponding to the stem 40, is provided with a threaded shank III! secured in a threaded bore ||2 in the cable clamp part II4 'corresponding to the part 18; In`this form,`a

sleeve I I6 of insulating material is provided with "a. threaded metallic sleeve IIB'Ythreaded into a metallic sleeve |20 secured in'theend ofthe insulated handle handle 26.

In Figure 17,'the stem |24 .is threaded into a body |26 provided with an annularwall -I28-into |22 corresponding tov the Thus `such position.

Slots v|34 are formed in the wall |28 so that the divided wall includes an element of resiliency to provide a firm frictional connection for the cap end 30. |32 is pressed into an annular wall |38 in a clamp part |40 corresponding to the clamp part 16. Wall |38 is also slotted at |42 in the same manner as the wall |28.

Figure 17 also embodies a further modification in' that the stem |24 has two wedge-shaped formations |44, each coacting with a set of fingers I 46 on ythe jaws, which are in other respects similanto the jaws |0 and I2. Thus the jaws may be pivoted to trolley clamping positions through pivotal 4movement of the stem |24 in either direction.

j The jaw I0 is provided with a curved lip |48 which serves as a guide contact with the trolley I6 should it be desired to move the clampalong the trolley I6 and still supply current to the machine operated by the cable 86.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, 'that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim: 1

l. A trolley clamp comprising two jaws each provided with a downwardly extending finger, the fingers being arranged in opposed relation, a pivot connecting the jaws, a spring located betweenthe jaws tending constantly to move themy into opened relation, a swivel member mounted on the pivot at one side` of the fingers for lateral movement with relation to the fingers, a cable handle'provided atits upper end with a wedge shaped member located between the fingers, and

a pivot connecting the upper end of the cable handle to the swivel member for movement with relation to the fingers at rightr angles to the direc.- .tion of movement of the swivel member so` as `to move the wedge shapedmember yupwardlyor downwardly with relation to the fingers and thus yclose the'jaws or release them for movement into opened position by the spring.

2. A trolley clampv as set forthin claim l, wherein each ngeris provided in its inner face with al groove, and wherein the cable handle is provided with spring elements adapted toengage. in the grooves when thehandleis injaw closing position, whereby to latch the handle in 3. A trolley clamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein each jaw is provided with a second finger, these fingers `extending downwardly from.; Vthe jaws in opposed relation and being located at that side of the swivel member remotejfrom said first fingers, the fingers being adapted to contact` with each other to limit the opening movementof the jaws.

4. A trolley clamp as set forth in l,v

wherein each jaw is provided with a second linger,

`these fingers extending downwardly` fromthe jaws and being located at that side ofthe .swivel 4member remote from said first fingers, the lingers contact with the lower ends of said second fingers when the handle is in jaw releasing position; said shoulder and second fingers constituting means #adapted to prevent the withdrawal ofthe wedge y Ishaped member from between said flrst'flngers.

which the capl end ISU-ora fuse |32 is pressed. y

HARRY CAPPELLANJ The opposite cap end' I 36 of the fuse`r 

